If you’re buying online, you can look up the device’s activation status. Ask the seller for the IMEI number, and go to icloud.com/activationlock on a Mac or PC. Then, enter the number, type in the verification code, and click Continue.

If it’s locked, that means the phone is bound to another account. You can ask the seller to wipe the phone completely, and if it’s theirs, that will unbind it. Do the process above again once they’ve done it to make sure it’s ready to go.

If it’s still not, then it’s best not to buy the phone from that person.

Have any horror stories of buying used electronics? Any tips to avoid getting ripped off? Let us know in the comments!

Dave LeClair loves games on console, PC, mobile, handheld, and any electronic device that is capable of playing them! He manages the Deals section, writes articles, and does lots of behind the scenes work at MakeUseOf.